Our psychology training programs at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center at NYU Langone focus on honing skills in providing individual, couples, family, and child therapy for veterans and their families.

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center provides pro bono, compassionate mental healthcare services. All training programs emphasize providing evidence-based psychotherapies in an individually tailored and culturally competent fashion.

We offer a postdoctoral psychology fellowship and a psychology externship. Psychotherapy electives for psychiatry postgraduate year 4 (PGY-4) residents are also available, as are elective rotations for psychology interns completing their predoctoral internship at NYU Langone’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center Fellowship

Trainees in the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center Fellowship work with veterans and their families using a variety of theoretical approaches to psychotherapy. This one-year, full-time fellowship begins in July and ends in June. However, the start date is somewhat flexible, and applicants whose internships require them to begin in September are encouraged to apply. This fellowship offers an annual stipend of $50,000 with full benefits.

Clinical Training

During clinical training, fellows provide individual and couples psychotherapy to patients. We supervise cases using an integrative model based on both cognitive–behavioral and psychodynamic theory and assign cases based on your training interests and our center’s needs. As a fellow, you can elect to focus on a variety of common difficulties that our patients present with, including complex trauma, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders. Fellows can also pursue additional specialized training in assessing and treating patients with comorbid substance use disorders and psychological diagnoses, most commonly depressive disorders with or without post-traumatic stress. Fellows have the opportunity to join the dual diagnosis treatment team for weekly rounds and specialized didactics.

Fellows also conduct telephone intakes, the first step in the process toward onboarding a new client. This exciting opportunity to hone skills in providing rapid and accurate referrals represents a potential client’s first exposure to center services. In addition, fellows may oversee a psychology extern under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Other learning opportunities include developing a psychotherapy group, participating in outreach and education throughout the veteran and military community, and engaging in program evaluation activities.

Candidates with a doctorate who are selected for this fellowship may apply hours and supervision toward licensure.

Didactic Training

Weekly didactic seminars are offered within the center training program. Fellows are invited to all dispositional meetings, case presentations, and journal clubs. Trainees can also attend weekly Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds.

Research Opportunities

Postdoctoral fellows are expected to complete a year-long research project of their choosing.

Eligibility Requirements

Two postdoctoral positions are available. The fellowship is best suited for a postdoctoral fellow with experience in trauma or working with a veteran population.

We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology and completion of an American Psychological Association–Accredited Psychology Internship in clinical assessment and psychotherapy
• familiarity with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)
• training and practice in trauma-focused, evidence-based psychiatric treatments
• excellent written and oral communication skills
• highly organized, detail oriented, and reliable

Application Process

We are currently accepting applications to our fellowship on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is December 31, 2020.

To apply to our fellowship, please submit the following materials:

• a cover letter
• a CV
• two letters of reference

You may email these items to Amanda M. Spray, PhD, center director and training director, at amanda.spray@nyulangone.org.

Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center Externship

Our year-long externship at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center emphasizes provision of psychotherapy to veterans and their families using several theoretical approaches. This training program begins in July and requires a commitment of two days per week.

Clinical Training

Externs provide individual and couples psychotherapy to patients. Cases are supervised using an integrative model based on both cognitive–behavioral and psychodynamic theory, with specific training in prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and skills training in affect regulation. You receive a minimum of two hours of individual supervision and one hour of group supervision per week.

We assign cases based on externs’ training interests and the needs of the center. As an extern, you can elect to focus on a variety of difficulties that our patients are experiencing such as complex trauma, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders. The caseload is approximately six to eight individual and couples cases. Additional training opportunities include co-leading psychotherapy groups, providing psychotherapy to a child or family, participating in outreach throughout the veteran and military community, and engaging in program evaluations.

Externs can attend weekly case disposition meetings, case presentations, and journal clubs, along with a required weekly didactic seminar focused on teaching a variety of assessment and treatments, including but not limited to the approaches discussed above.

Didactic Training

Our program offers weekly didactic seminars, plus the opportunity to attend weekly Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds.

Eligibility Requirements

This externship is for advanced graduate students in clinical or counseling psychology doctoral programs. Applicants must have completed two full years of psychotherapy training and supervision by the start of the externship. Students should be entering their fourth year or above of doctoral training at the start of the externship.

Application Process

Four extern positions are available and interested applicants should provide the following materials:

• a cover letter
• a CV
• two letters of reference

You may apply through the American Psychological Association Psych Practicum Portal.

Please note that we follow the recommendations set forth by the Psychology Directors of New York State and the New York New Jersey Association of Directors of Training. Both groups have developed recommended policies to govern the process of applying to externships and accepting externship offers.

Contact Us

For more information about our fellowship or externship, please contact Dr. Spray at amanda.spray@nyulangone.org or 646-754-4822.